New survey of 843 women in the entertainment industry found 94% say they've experienced harassment or assault.
Working in partnership with NSVRC, The Creative Coalition, and Women in Film and Television, USA TODAY surveyed 843 women who work in the entertainment industry in a variety of roles (producers, actors, writers, directors, editors and others) and asked them about their experiences with sexual misconduct. Nearly all of the women who responded to the survey (94%) say they have experienced some form of harassment or assault, often by an older individual in a position of power over the accuser.
The survey included women who work in the entertainment industry in a variety of roles (producers, actors, writers, directors, editors and others) and asked about their experiences with sexual misconduct. Nearly all of respondents (94%) said they have experienced some form of harassment or assault, often by an older individual in a position of power over the accuser, and more than one-fifth of respondents (21%) said they have been forced to do something sexual at least once.
The #MeToo movement was sparked by stories from the entertainment industry, and this groundbreaking survey quantifies what #MeToo has made clear in recent months about the size and scope of Hollywood’s sexual harassment problem.
Key Findings:
- 94 percent of the women surveyed reported they had experienced sexual harassment or assault, often by an older individual in a position of power over the victim
- Driven by the fear of personal or professional backlash, only 1 out of 4 women reported the sexual harassment or assault incident(s). Of those who did report, only 28 percent said their workplace situation improved after reporting the sexual harassment or assault.
- One in five respondents said they have been put in a position to provide sexual acts for career advancement.
- Most respondents agreed that eliminating sexual harassment/assault from the workplace will be driven by accountability from the top down, with 75 percent saying employers need to be held accountable for an organizational culture in which harassment is tolerated.
This survey is part of a broader initiative by the USA TODAY Life team to examine in depth the culture of sexual harassment in Hollywood. This three-part series will also focus on the experience of the accusers, micro-aggression within the workplace, changes that need to be made by those at the top, and how to create a safer work environment for those who work in the entertainment industry.
For the full report, please visit The94Percent.usatoday.com.